Are you interested in a home that is cost-effective to operate, has healthier indoor air quality, and has a minimal environmental impact? An expert green builder focuses on quality, design, and using cost-effective products and materials to help create a healthier, more efficient and environmentally friendly home.
Building a home is a significant investment of time and money, so finding a green professional whose business approach aligns with your preferences is critical to ensuring the process goes smoothly and you are happy with the result. Here are some considerations when evaluating a green home builder.
Inquire about their qualifications. When you meet with a green builder, they will ask you about your interest in making your home sustainable and/or resilient. During this time, you should also ask about the builder’s qualifications. An expert green builder will be able to thoroughly answer questions about their work experience, provide customer references, and be knowledgeable about the steps they take to make their homes green, as well as green building certifications and energy ratings.
Learn about their work experience. You’ll want to find a builder or remodeler with experience constructing a sustainable and resilient home. Qualified professionals understand all the intricacies of green building and have specialized knowledge in areas such as:
- Practices to increase the energy efficiency of your home
- Indoor and outdoor water conservation practices
- Optimizing indoor environmental quality
- Sustainable and efficient building products
- Sustainable site development strategies
Make sure the builder can tell you how many green homes they have constructed from start to finish. Once you view what type of work they have completed in the past, it will help you decide if their company can deliver what you need.
Evaluate their past projects. Ask the builder to provide customer references. Any high-quality green 
professional should be ready to provide you with satisfied customers’ names and phone numbers. If they cannot, consider that a red flag and walk away. When reaching out to those former clients, ask how well the builder followed through on the initial plans and if the builder met their expectations regarding budget and timing. Remember the most telling question: Would they hire that builder again if they could do it all over?
To find a green builder in our community contact your local home builder association HERE.